Magnetic resonance eye tracking systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of magnetic resonance eye tracking systems and methods are disclosed. One embodiment, among others, comprises a method that receives magnetic resonance based data and determines direction of a subject's gaze based on the data.

1 . A magnetic resonance eye tracking method, comprising:
 receiving magnetic resonance based data; and   determining direction of a subject's gaze based on the data.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the direction further comprises determining an amount of eye movement. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the magnetic resonance based data comprises receiving the magnetic resonance based data during a non-calibration scan. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the direction further comprises combining a regression model based on second magnetic resonance based data from a calibration scan with the magnetic resonance based data from the non-calibration scan. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein responsive to the combining, estimating horizontal and vertical fixation locations corresponding to the subject's gaze corresponding to the non-calibration scan. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the calibration scan is implemented before the non-calibration scan. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the calibration scan is implemented after the non-calibration scan. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the regression model relates an image volume corresponding to the second magnetic resonance based data for a defined time to a fixation location at that time. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the regression model comprises one of a look-up table and a math formula. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein combining further comprises combining more than one regression model. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising prompting generation of the second magnetic resonance based data by providing a stimulus to the subject or a different subject. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second magnetic resonance based data corresponds to the subject or a different subject. 
   
   
       13 . A magnetic resonance eye tracking system, comprising:
 memory with software stored therein; and   a processor configured with the software to:
 receive first eye fixation coordinates and first image data corresponding to a calibration scan; 
 generate one or more models based on the first eye fixation coordinates and the first image data; 
 receive second image data corresponding to a non-calibration scan; and 
   estimate a subject's eye fixation based on the second image data and the one or more models.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured with the software to output estimated eye fixation coordinates. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured with the software to prompt generation of the first eye fixation coordinates by generating a stimulus. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the stimulus comprises visual stimuli, non-visual stimuli, or a combination of both. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more models relates an image volume corresponding to the second image data for a defined time to a eye fixation location corresponding to the first eye fixation coordinates at that time. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured with the software to estimate horizontal, vertical, or a combination of horizontal and vertical eye fixation coordinates. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor and the memory are embodied in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner or coupled to a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. 
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium having a magnetic resonance eye tracking program, the program for performing the steps of:
 generating a model based on first magnetic resonance based data received during a calibration stage;   receiving second magnetic resonance based data during a non-calibration stage; and   determining direction of a subject's gaze based on the model and the second magnetic resonance based data.